Rocks in the Jordan

[The Lord spoke to Joshua], "Select twelve men from the people, one from each tribe, and command them, 'Take twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet stood, carry them over with you, and lay them down in the place where you camp tonight.'" -Joshua 3-4

Joshua also set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests that bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day.-Joshua 4:9

It wasn't unusual in the early days of God's people to set up memorials and altars to remember special events and miracles. The crossing of the Jordan was a huge deal.  It was a significant ending and beginning. They are entering the land that God promised all the way back in the day of Abraham. They have much work to do first and it won't be easy (or pretty). 

Setting up the 12 stones (one for each tribe) was a way of grounding and uniting them as a people set apart for God's purposes... a tribe to bless all other tribes. They were instructed to tell the story of this crossing of the Jordan whenever their children asked about the rocks.

But there was another set of rocks. 12 rocks that were laid at the feet of the priests holding the ark of the covenant in the middle of the river (while it was dry). After the crossing, the rocks were covered over by the river and - the author says - "are there to this day."

Perhaps this symbolizes the life they just left behind.  It's almost like a baptism... covered in water, the old life is washed away and the new life begins.

God of our lives,

Help us to remember the moments that shape us more into your image. Remind us to place our own "rocks" so we will tell our children how you have worked in our own lives. Amen.